When I came out a few years ago, I knew that I was male, but out of fear I convinced myself that my feelings weren’t valid and that I was saying I was male just for the attention. This fear was reenforced when I came out to my mother (at the time identifying as non-binary for the previously mentioned reasons). I told her how I felt more comfortable dressing in a suit and tie and how being referred to as a girl caused me a lot of anxiety and depression because this was not who I knew myself to be. She told me that God gave her a girl and that God never told her to let me wear a suit and be like a boy. Since then, I’ve come out as a trans male and she’s slowly becoming a little more accepting, but I still feel nervous when talking to her about anything gender related because what she said to me all those years ago is still with me today. (M/17/Bisexual)
Story #2538
When I came out to my mom, it was an accident actually lol. We were talking about movie characters and I accidentally told her I wasn’t into girls. She was super awesome about it, as I knew she would be, and then I told my dad, who was also lovely about it. I started dating a guy pretty soon after that, so that’s when I socially came out. (M/17/Gay)
Story #2534
When I came out, two of my friends knew that I was bi and one of them knew I was trans at the time. I created this “about me” test and the winner got money. I let my two friends take it first, and then THOUGHT I turned off the setting after that said “reveal correct answers”, but I obviously didn’t. So, I let my homophobic Christian friend take the quiz and WHAT DO YOU KNOW he submitted it and on the question that said, “What is your biggest secret?”, it said in big letters: “YOU’RE BI” and “YOU’RE NOT A GIRL”. I was so embarassed, I told him some of the answers were fakes the trick him but now every time I play a game with my friends, one of my friends always puts in as my name: “KJ LOVES AMITY” (from The Owl House, also, my fictional crush, another question on the quiz.) Well, there went my shot at my homophobic friend believing me! (M/12/Biromantic/asexual/FtM)
Story #2532
When I came out, it was in the 8th grade. I was hanging out with my cousins and they were talking about how friendly gay people were and I did the ahem noise and pointed at me. When they saw me, they gasped and hugged me tight as I cried, knowing I was supported. I still haven’t come out to my parents; they’re super religious. (M/13/Gay)
Story #2531
When I came out to my boyfriend I was so nervous. I am biologically female, but I identify as He/They. He told me that he is supportive no matter what, and that he’ll love me just the same. I was so happy. He asked me what to call me, he’s told his family, and he’s been helping me out tremendously. If your partner truly loves you, they will accept you for who you are! If they don’t, then they’re not worth it. (Non-binary/male/16/Bisexual)
Story #2530
When I came out, it was in the 6th grade, most of my straight female friends noticed that I was staring at guys a lot and a few weeks later, they confronted me if I was gay. At first, I was startled but I quickly admitted it with tears running down my cheeks as my best friends hugged me tight. Thanks a lot, my fellow queers! (M/13/Gay)
Story #2523
When I came out it was when I was in 7th grade. People did not really like that I was trans male and and pansexual, but then in 8th grade I met this group called deep and they were all supportive and it made me happy. (Trans male/13/Pansexual)
Story #2522
When I came out to my best friend, who is straight, via text I was unsure whether he would accept me or not. He was going through a rough time and I always tried to be there for him (as good friends should); during some of our conversations he assured me that if I ever had something that I would want to talk about I could just reach out. That night, we had been texting for a long time already. I wrote down all my thoughts on my notes app, took the chance, and decided to send it to him. I remember shaking as my phone vibrated but after reading his response I felt a strong sensation of relief: he accepted me. If you had asked me half a year earlier I never would have believed that I would have gotten the courage to tell him or anybody for that matter. I’m thankful for having a friend like him. (M/17/Bisexual)
Story #2521
When I came out to my best friend who is bisexual, I was pretty nervous but I knew she would accept me so I kept confident. I came out via text while we played an expose game and we had to write stuff about us and you could guess if it was true or false. I wrote that am trans and use he/him pronouns. And she was just like stunned first and then asked if it was true and I said yes. Then she told me how proud she was of me coming out and that she would try her best to not misgender me. (She misgendered me pretty much all the time in the start, but after like a month it got better but she still forgets my name now sometimes.) (Trans male/13)
Story #2519
When I first came out I was with my sister and we were at a restaurant. She called a friend of hers over and he sat with us. After an hour he got up to go to the bathroom and at that moment my sister looked at me and said, “So do you like him?” I was floored; all I could do was sit there. She looked at me and said, “I know, Brad.” I replied, “Yes, he is cute, and yes, I am gay.” My life got so much better after that night. (M/48/Gay)